Middle English foundrento sink to the groundfrom Old French fondrerfrom Vulgar Latin funderārefromfundus&ast;funder-bottomfrom Latin fundusfund-

Usage Note: The verbs founder and flounder are often confused. Founder comes from a Latin word meaning “bottom” (as in foundation ) and originally referred to knocking enemies down; it is now also used to mean “to fail utterly, collapse.” Flounder means “to move clumsily, thrash about,” and hence “to proceed in confusion.” If John is foundering in Chemistry 101, he had better drop the course; if he is floundering, he may yet pull through.

noun

One who establishes something or formulates the basis for something: the founder of a university.

Frequently confused with flounder. Both may be applied to the same situation, the difference is the severity of the action: floundering (struggling to maintain position) comes first, followed by foundering (losing it by falling, sinking or failing).